Fitchburg's Emmi Roth buying Seymour blue cheese plant

Emmi USA, the Fitchburg specialty cheese maker doing business as Emmi Roth, said Friday that it is growing its Wisconsin operations with the acquisition of a blue cheese plant in Seymour from Great Lakes Cheese Co. Inc. of Hiram, Ohio.

Emmi Roth said in a press release it will assume ownership of the plant Feb. 28. Terms of the transaction, which includes related land, the production facility and equipment, were not disclosed.

Emmi Roth expands its blue cheese production with the acquisition, which also increases the company’s capabilities to develop new blue cheese products and packaging.

Great Lakes Cheese's Seymour plant employs 50 people, all of whom will be offered continued employment by Emmi Roth. Emmi Roth is the U.S. subsidiary of Switzerland-based Emmi Group.

This acquisition will grow Emmi Roth to four locations in Wisconsin, also including Monroe, Platteville and Fitchburg, employing nearly 300 people.